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The Long Road Home
by
Brooke never meant to survive, hoping that the suicide attempt would end all of her suffering. After years of rejection, pain, and heartbreak, she feels as though she's not good enough for anyone. Now she's stuck in a hospital, being forced to take antidepressants and is getting therapy for her issues.
And she hates it until she meets Matt.
Now Brooke must remember the past ...more
And she hates it until she meets Matt.
Now Brooke must remember the past ...more
Paperback
Published
April 15th 2016
by Booktrope
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Jan 02, 2017
Melinda Howard
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
abuse,
arc-off-netgalley,
contemporary,
cover-love,
death,
glbt,
illness,
mental-illness,
rape,
school
*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was an intense and emotionally gripping read. The author does not sugar coat mental illness and the ending is equal parts tragic and hopeful. The writing was quite beautiful and the plot was good but some of the characters seemed a bit cliche as well as the situations the main character Brooke finds herself in. I also wanted to know more about Matt and why he stopped talking to Brooke after they were released. I was espe ...more
This was an intense and emotionally gripping read. The author does not sugar coat mental illness and the ending is equal parts tragic and hopeful. The writing was quite beautiful and the plot was good but some of the characters seemed a bit cliche as well as the situations the main character Brooke finds herself in. I also wanted to know more about Matt and why he stopped talking to Brooke after they were released. I was espe ...more

This book isn't an easy read. It tackles with some serious things like self harm, suicide, depression, anxiety, dependency... and you can see it is something felt rather than especulated upon (and when you reach the end the author explains it).
All the book is pretty raw, there is no sugar coating the things like self harm with a knife, emotions, thoughts and pain... and so on.
We follow the protagonist of the book from her "then" to her "now", which has landed her onto a hospital after trying to ...more
All the book is pretty raw, there is no sugar coating the things like self harm with a knife, emotions, thoughts and pain... and so on.
We follow the protagonist of the book from her "then" to her "now", which has landed her onto a hospital after trying to ...more

First of, if you want to read this book, please be aware that the story might/is very triggering in different aspects such as cutting, suicide and abuse.
It's been a long time since I last read a book about depression and mental health. When I chose to read The Long Road Home, I didn't expect to go on such an emotional roller coaster:
The story is very intense and raw.
It's also very emotionals... (You'll probably need a few tissues while reading it).
I honestly feel like the story is a little bit ...more
It's been a long time since I last read a book about depression and mental health. When I chose to read The Long Road Home, I didn't expect to go on such an emotional roller coaster:
The story is very intense and raw.
It's also very emotionals... (You'll probably need a few tissues while reading it).
I honestly feel like the story is a little bit ...more

I enjoyed the book, but honestly did not like the ending. It was a dull end with too many unresolved issues. Also.....no one recovers miraculously within a week or two, so I would have loved if Brooke was given more time in the book to work through everything and really get better. Other than that, the book was good.

After trying to commit suicide for the second time, Brooke is sent to a psych hospital, only to find her nemesis is also a patient.
None of the characters felt particularly complex or unique; if anything they were beyond cliché. For example what psych hospital book is complete without an angry newcomer, hiding a world of pain and a mean girl who's really just hurting inside?
I believe that YA first person narratives should sound their stated age, not like adults writing teenage speak. THE LONG ROA ...more

I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book was SOOOOOO good..... OMG
Big triggers about cutting and suicide
This book hits home about issues that most teens are facing... BULLYING being the number one example. But the real question is...do we really know what is going on inside of other people. Do we know why people act the way they do????
This book totally explains about what bullying can do to someone and also it looks into why people bully other pe ...more
This book was SOOOOOO good..... OMG
Big triggers about cutting and suicide
This book hits home about issues that most teens are facing... BULLYING being the number one example. But the real question is...do we really know what is going on inside of other people. Do we know why people act the way they do????
This book totally explains about what bullying can do to someone and also it looks into why people bully other pe ...more

Sensitive yet enlightening...
This is my first time to read something about suicide. The topic itself is already sensitive but the author did an excellent job to convey the character's sufferings. I was saddened that in the end one of the character committed suicide. In my opinion, I just wished that Brooke could have replied to Jennifer's message as soon as she have read it. Maybe Jennifer was waiting for her reply. Maybe there is a chance that she might not have taken her life. But then again t ...more
This is my first time to read something about suicide. The topic itself is already sensitive but the author did an excellent job to convey the character's sufferings. I was saddened that in the end one of the character committed suicide. In my opinion, I just wished that Brooke could have replied to Jennifer's message as soon as she have read it. Maybe Jennifer was waiting for her reply. Maybe there is a chance that she might not have taken her life. But then again t ...more

Thanks so much to the author for sending me an eGalley of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
I really loved this book. I wasn't too sure what to expect going in, but once I got into it, I knew I was hooked.
Similar to It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, this book takes place in a psychiatric hospital after the main character, Brooke, tries to commit suicide for the second time. By the way, I'm just going to warn you know, this book deals with very serious to ...more
I really loved this book. I wasn't too sure what to expect going in, but once I got into it, I knew I was hooked.
Similar to It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, this book takes place in a psychiatric hospital after the main character, Brooke, tries to commit suicide for the second time. By the way, I'm just going to warn you know, this book deals with very serious to ...more

Original review
First of all I want thank Alec for giving me a beta copy, you truly are an amazing person!
The Long Road Home is a book about Brooke. Brooke isn't your average happy girl in high school, no Brooke is depressed and struggles with a lot of issues. Every time Brooke falls in love with a boy, it ends terrible. It ends deadly. It all started with Ian, and there were other guys too, but Jason triggered her suicidal thoughts.
Love is a vile thing. It's a disease, catching you by the thro ...more
First of all I want thank Alec for giving me a beta copy, you truly are an amazing person!
The Long Road Home is a book about Brooke. Brooke isn't your average happy girl in high school, no Brooke is depressed and struggles with a lot of issues. Every time Brooke falls in love with a boy, it ends terrible. It ends deadly. It all started with Ian, and there were other guys too, but Jason triggered her suicidal thoughts.
Love is a vile thing. It's a disease, catching you by the thro ...more

I received an early copy in exchange for a honest review.
This is a heart wrenching book about a teenage girl named Brooke. It has raw and real emotions placed on each page. This haunting book will stay with me for awhile. I found it to be more intense than 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. The characters were believable and each had a story to share. It was hard to read without a tissue box next to you. I have been a fan of this author for awhile and he just took it to the next level. I loved the wa ...more
This is a heart wrenching book about a teenage girl named Brooke. It has raw and real emotions placed on each page. This haunting book will stay with me for awhile. I found it to be more intense than 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. The characters were believable and each had a story to share. It was hard to read without a tissue box next to you. I have been a fan of this author for awhile and he just took it to the next level. I loved the wa ...more

Great story about a couple of subjects that some people would rather avoid, from bullying to depression and having her happiness dependant on another person. It was definitely a roller coaster of emotions for me. Brooke was a great, believable and relatable character and I loved following her journey through all of her problems and seeing the end result. I think that many people can relate to Brooke in one way or another. I cried a lot through the book.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest ...more
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest ...more

Such a deep, heart wrenching book. very in depth to what young teens go through with depression and suicidal thoughts. I really enjoyed Brooke's journey. Truly a great read for those who need hope, and especially for those who have never felt these kind of emotions, it will help develop a little understanding as to what someone goes through and the thoughts they have. You never truly know what someone is going through. Can't wait to read other works from this Author :-)
...more

I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaways contest, and I am glad I did. This isn't a book I would usually pick up on my own, but I found the story line very well written and an easy read. Also a topic that is very pertinent with today's teenagers and young adults. I recommend it especially for parents of teenagers and teenagers facing problems today.
...more

I like that this book emphasizes that everyone's journey to recovery is different. Everyone has something going on in their lives that they need to cope with.
...more

**I copied this from another reviewer, it said perfectly what I was thinking**
After trying to commit suicide for the second time, Brooke is sent to a psych hospital, only to find her nemesis is also a patient.
None of the characters felt particularly complex or unique; if anything they were beyond cliché. For example what psych hospital book is complete without an angry newcomer, hiding a world of pain and a mean girl who's really just hurting inside?
I believe that YA first person narratives sho ...more
After trying to commit suicide for the second time, Brooke is sent to a psych hospital, only to find her nemesis is also a patient.
None of the characters felt particularly complex or unique; if anything they were beyond cliché. For example what psych hospital book is complete without an angry newcomer, hiding a world of pain and a mean girl who's really just hurting inside?
I believe that YA first person narratives sho ...more

Dnf‘ed at 27%
The idea for this story sounded great, actually exactly what I had been looking for, but I could not deal with the writing and especially with the characters!! I honestly thought about dnfing after 10% but tried to give the book a bit more of a chance.
Sorry, but the characters were annoyingly in-fleshed out, the writing was both too immature and too superficial (what’s with all the descriptions of clothes?!), and I lost count of the many mistakes I found on just these first 60 page ...more
The idea for this story sounded great, actually exactly what I had been looking for, but I could not deal with the writing and especially with the characters!! I honestly thought about dnfing after 10% but tried to give the book a bit more of a chance.
Sorry, but the characters were annoyingly in-fleshed out, the writing was both too immature and too superficial (what’s with all the descriptions of clothes?!), and I lost count of the many mistakes I found on just these first 60 page ...more
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Alec John Belle resides in Carson City, NV, where he is currently attending high school for his senior year. At the age of 16 he wrote his first novel, Before I Break. His hobbies include reading, writing, and obsessing over Pretty Little Liars. He writes about tough topics that many are too afraid to talk about like suicide, homosexuality, self harm, bullying, mental illness, among other teenage
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